Grease Trap Cleaning

Without proper grease trap maintenance and cleaning, grease deposits can build up quickly inside the traps, making them ineffective. The accumulation of the grease can also make it very difficult to dispose of and become a source of unpleasant odours. Our grease trap cleaning service helps to stop blocks in drains and malodours by cleaning out and safely disposing of the waste.

Contact us for specialist grease trap cleaning solutions using the contact form below, chat or call us.

A kitchen grease trap (also known as a grease interceptor) is a specialised plumbing device designed to intercept Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) before they enter the wastewater disposal system.

When water flows from your sinks and dishwashers, it contains food particles and liquefied grease. The trap works by slowing down this flow, allowing the water to cool. As it cools, the grease separates and floats to the top, while heavier food solids sink to the bottom. This allows only the filtered, cleaner water to escape into the main sewer lines.

Most local councils have strict mandates regarding FOG disposal. Failing to maintain your trap can lead to heavy fines, legal prosecutions, or the immediate closure of your business. Professionals provide the "Duty of Care" documentation required to prove you are disposing of waste legally.

Our team of grease trap cleaning experts cover the entire UK. Our network of strategically located hubs ensure that one of our qualified Grease Hygiene Technicians (GHT) is always just a short drive away from your business.

Whether you are a high-street restaurant  in London, a hotel in Cornwall, or an industrial kitchen in Glasgow, our local presence means a prompt arrival, ensuring your grease tank cleaning is completed before your first customer walks through the door.

When you skip your scheduled grease tank cleaning, the organic matter trapped inside begins to break down. This leads to major issues that no business owner wants to face.

1. Foul Odours That Drive Customers Away
A neglected grease trap is essentially a tank of stagnant, decaying organic waste. As fats and food particles decompose, they release hydrogen sulfide and methane gases. These smells can quickly permeate your kitchen and dining area, ruining the customer experience.

2. Pest Infestations and Health Hazards
Grease traps that aren't regularly serviced become a sanctuary for unwanted guests. The thick layer of "scum" at the top of a full trap is a primary food source and breeding ground for:

• Drain Flies and Cockroaches: These pests thrive in moist, organic environments.
• Rodents: If grease levels are high and the unit isn't sealed or cleaned, it can attract rats searching for a calorie-rich meal.

3. Catastrophic Drain Blockages (The "Fatberg" Effect)
When a kitchen grease trap reaches capacity, it stops doing its job. Instead of trapping grease, it allows it to flow freely into your internal plumbing and the city’s sewer lines.

Once grease enters the pipes, it cools and solidifies, grabbing onto other debris to create massive, rock-hard blockages known as "fatbergs".

This can lead to "catastrophic" backups where raw sewage can overflow into your kitchen, requiring costly emergency plumbing, professional cleanup, and the resulting excessive downtime.

Proactive grease management is your first line of defense in TR19® Grease - Fire Risk Management and a non-negotiable requirement for Environmental Health inspections.

• Fire Risk: If a kitchen grease trap is neglected, grease can atomise or build up in areas where it shouldn't be, increasing the overall risk in your kitchen.
• Insurance Requirements: In the event of a fire, the first thing an insurance provider will ask for is your maintenance records. If you cannot prove you’ve had regular grease trap cleaning services and extract cleans, your claim may be voided.
• Safety: Keeping grease contained and removed at the source is the first line of defense against a catastrophic kitchen fire.

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) have a broad remit to ensure your kitchen is safe for the public. During a routine inspection, your grease management system is a high-priority item.

When an inspector walks into your facility, they aren't just looking for a clean floor; they are looking for:

• Evidence of a "Duty of Care"
  You are legally responsible for the waste your business produces. An EHO will expect to see a "Waste Transfer Note" or a service log. Only professional grease trap cleaning services can provide the legal documentation required to prove that your grease was disposed of at a licensed facility and not poured down the drain.
• Hygiene and Sanitation
  If an EHO detects the tell-tale odour of a neglected kitchen grease trap, or sees evidence of drain flies, your hygiene rating will take an immediate hit.
• Prevention of Pollution
  Water authorities work closely with Environmental Health. If your business is found to be the source of a local sewer blockage or environmental contamination due to a lack of grease tank cleaning, you could face prosecution under the Water Industry Act 1991.

Under environmental protection laws, your business has a strict legal "Duty of Care" regarding waste. Crucially, your responsibility doesn't end when the waste leaves your premises. If an unlicensed contractor illegally dumps your kitchen grease, you are held legally and financially liable for the environmental damage.

To avoid massive fines, you must partner with a provider holding a valid Waste Carrier Licence. We are fully licensed and insured, ensuring your grease trap waste is securely transported to an authorised, eco-friendly treatment facility.

For your peace of mind and compliance records, we provide a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) after every service. This legally binds your compliance by proving:

• What: The exact waste collected.
• When: The date and time it was removed from your site.
• Who: Our licensed carrier details.
• Where: The authorised facility where it was safely processed.

When it comes to high-volume food production, a standard plumbing "quick fix" simply isn't enough. Grease traps work in layers—heavy food solids sink to the bottom, while fats and oils congeal into a thick cap at the top. Simply skimming the surface leaves up to 70% of the waste behind, meaning your trap will reach capacity again in a matter of days.

To ensure your kitchen remains safe, compliant, and fully operational, our specialists follow a rigorous, step-by-step deep cleaning process:

Ensure you are always compliant by setting up recurring, professional grease tank cleaning, you protect your kitchen from hidden costs, maintain your compliance, and ensure your business keeps running smoothly.

Not every commercial kitchen has easy ground-floor access. Whether you operate from a busy city-centre basement, a historic building, or a high-rise complex, our teams specialise in servicing "difficult" sites where a standard vacuum tanker simply cannot reach.

We utilise specialised equipment to ensure your grease trap remains compliant and functional, no matter where it is tucked away:

• Portable Suction & Pumping Units: High-powered, compact systems that easily manoeuvre through standard doorways to safely service basement or upper-floor kitchens directly at the source.
• Long-Reach, High-Pressure Hoses: Reinforced, leakproof hoses that maintain maximum suction power over significant distances when direct vehicle access is limited.

To arrange a Grease Trap Cleaning, get in touch with Rentokil Specialist Hygiene.

Call our friendly team of experts on 0808 159 1403 or contact us here 24/7/365 for a dispatch response within the hour.

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  How does a Grease Trap work?

  Whether you are cooking in a residential or commercial catering environment, all types of cooking generate waste that can flow down the sink through the pipework. If left unchecked, the build-up of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and food waste can build-up, potentially leading to blockages. Commercial fat traps or grease traps are specially designed plumbing drainage devices used to intercept wastewater before entering the water disposal system.

  Within a commercial kitchen or food processing plant, grease traps form a vital role in helping to ensure harmful FOGs are captured and removed before entering the system where they could cause potentially damaging obstructions, also known as fatbergs but with continuous use, grease can build-up very quickly inside grease traps making them ineffective.

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  Does UK law require Grease Traps?

  For commercial kitchen facilities across the UK, several regulations and legislations form part of the owners' and proprietors' duty of care for managing and disposing of FOG produced as part of their business operations.

  • The British Building Regulations (document H, section 2.21), commercial food premises state regulations for grease management. Under regulations, a commercial food premise connected to the mains drainage system serving hot food should be fitted with a grease trap or separators complying with BS EN 1825-1:2004. Grease Traps and Interceptors must be provided by law to a range of facilities, including Restaurants, Cafes, Fast Food Restaurants, Food Processing, and Commercial Kitchens.
  • Under the Water Industry Act 1991, it is a criminal offence to discharge any matter that may interfere with the free-flowing of wastewater into public sewers systems.
  • Every commercial premise is also responsible for arranging the collection and disposal of waste (including waste cooking oils and fats). It must comply with the requirements of section 34 and Duty of Care of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
  • The Food Safety Act 1990 states that drainage problems or blockages caused by the effects of fat, oils and grease (FOG) within drains that result in failure to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations could result in prosecution, fines or imprisonment or give grounds for an emergency prohibition order.

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  How often should a Grease Trap be emptied and cleaned?

  As part of your Grease Trap Cleaning Procedure, grease traps should be emptied and serviced regularly depending on the volume of effluent passing through the unit.

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  Is Grease Trap waste controlled waste?

  Yes, waste from grease traps is classified as controlled waste. The Environment Agency or an Environmental Health Officer is required to see evidence that regular cleaning of the grease trap has been performed and a registered waste carrier disposes of any waste that has been removed.

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  How do you prevent drain blockages and fatbergs?

  Clogs or blocks in your pipework are entirely avoidable. Also, don't pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain. These cooking by-products can cause a build-up entering the wastewater drainage system, forming semi-solid waste or fatbergs.

  Avoid pouring or overloading your grease trap system by regularly maintaining your drains and pipes, preventing drains from clogging. Even a well-maintained system can be at risk of blockage, but using a preventative maintenance service can stop FOG and other contaminants from accumulating in your pipework.

  Rentokil Specialist Hygiene’s biological dosing service periodically feeds kitchen drain pipes and grease traps with a biological solution containing environmentally controlled bacteria, which can safely break down the grease and prevents a build-up from occurring.

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  Why Use Rentokil Specialist Hygiene?

  • Our technicians have undergone Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) accredited training.
  • We provide a reliable, responsive grease trap service.
  • Local branches mean we are never far from your premises.
  • We provide innovative service solutions which are supported by our dedicated technical teams.

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  What is a grease trap cleaning service?

  Grease trap cleaning service is a professional maintenance process designed to remove Fats, Oils, Grease, and food solids (FOG) from your interceptor to keep your plumbing clear and your business legal.

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  How do you clean out a grease trap?

  A total pump of the grease trap removing 100% of the contents, not just the top layer, then followed by scrapping and scrubbing all areas of the grease trap to remove any stuck on grease or fat and finally a hot water flush through to ensure free-flowing conditions are maintained after service.

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  Can a plumber clean a grease trap?

  Technically, they can—but legally and practically, they probably shouldn't.
  While a plumber is an expert at fixing pipes and clearing blockages, servicing a commercial grease trap requires specialised tools, specific training, and the correct Waste Carrier Licences to ensure the grease is disposed of safely and compliantly.

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  Does UK law require Grease Traps?

  Yes. While there isn't a single "Grease Trap Act," a combination of UK statutory legislation, building regulations, and environmental laws makes the installation and maintenance of a kitchen grease trap a legal necessity for almost all commercial food businesses.